Talks

Philip Glass in Conversation

Philip Glass is one of the most extraordinary composers of the last half of the 20th century and hes here in conversation with Radio National Music Show presenter and composer, Andrew Ford, at the Perth Festival.

If youre an insomniac you might have caught the Philip Glass documentary screened recently on ABC 1 after midnight. It was a great doco, produced and directed by Australian Scott Hicks, who directed the feature film, Shine.

Glass was in full creative mode in New York, Berlin and Australia and it was great watching him work out with a whole range of spiritual advisors.

If youre a musicologist or a composer, you may want a lot more from this interview; but it is a very good introduction to Glass, his early life and inspirations, etudes, operas, Woody Allen and how The New York Times (until the late 70s) refused to review anything below 14th Street.

Glass is speedy, funny, self deprecating and you might not catch his meaning with a few of the throwaway lines; but if you want to drop in on a conversation with one of the great modern composers  youre going to like this interview.